Rail Trail moves forward

I hope everyone saw the news this week that Albany County voted to enter into an agreement with Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy and the town of Bethlehem to open 1.85 miles of the Albany County Rail Trail. This is the part between Veteran’s Park on Delaware Ave. in Delmar and Fireman’s Park in Slingerlands. Many thanks to the MHLC, who’s picking up liability insurance on this stretch; the town of Bethlehem for agreeing to maintain it; and the county for also agreeing to it. And countless volunteers who have been pushing for this for years. Going on the trail now is still illegal – keep an eye out for a grand opening date soon!

Katherine McCarthy

11 Responses

I didn’t know it was illegal. By chance do you know who owns all of the property down around the Good Samaritan portion-there’s acres and acres. It has no trespassing signs but doesn’t identify who owns it. Not that it would stop hikers anyway.

It should be noted that it won’t be a hard surface path. It will not be suited to narrow tire road bikes. Walkers and MTB riders will be able to use it. Joggers and hybrid riders may be able to use it with caution.

Laurie, I don’t know who owns that land by Good Sam. Does anyone else?

Freddie – don’t know the answer to your questions either. Hopefully, increased pedestrian and bike use will reduce the motorized vehicles on the trail, and we hope to create Trail Ambassadors, also to keep the trail in great shape and be a resource to people. Not sure what that does with the 2 – 3 a.m. crowd, though!

You can find out who owns the property in question by going to the tax office in the proper town/city where the property is located. The tax maps will show the owner(s). Technically, No Trespassing signs with no owner name and address are not legally enforceable, because there is no indication of who exactly put them up. However, a town justice would probably rule on the side of the landowner in a trespass case because you were warned–just not according to the letter of the law.

Motorized vehicles may be slowed down with appropriate barriers, but only if it’s not easy to steer around them–through someone elses property–unfortunately.

Don’t count the police out–you don’t know where the patrol car might be when the call comes in. Also, if enough people are annoyed and call the cops night after night, the police may station an officer or two in a location where the offending idiots can be stopped.

“going on the trail now is still illegal” <– this surprised me. i had no idea it was illegal. there are absolutely no 'no trespassing' signs where i enter/exit the trail (and have for years) nor on the portion i walk/run/bike. i have seen countless people back there also walking, running, riding bikes in addition to dirt bikes. i'm really shocked to learn it is illegal. can you cite your source?

The trail is not technically open to the public yet and never has been. But no one is interested in enforcing that, just as they haven’t been since before the train rails were removed, so I wouldn’t fret about it. (It’s always all about liability.)

I see this week that expansion of the Veteran’s Park has cleared out the space between the trail and Hudson Avenue, allowing another point where it’ll be easier for four wheelers, etc. to access the trail. Very short-sighted in my opinion.

Sarah, I understand that area will be landscaped like the Veteran’s Park. I haven’t seen the plans, but it won’t remain wide open the way it is now.

The problem with motorcycles and ATVs is any form of access control that would stop them would also impede emergency and patrol vehicles. The best way to keep them off may be to get enough legitimate users that they feel unwelcome.

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